Public Transport Victoria tests tram of the future

Public Transport Victoria (PTV) is testing a new analytics system on Melbourne's Yarra Trams, a first step toward the tram of the future. The trial is a partnership between PTV, Koelis Downer and Cisco. Launched as a demo for ITSWC, the trial uses cameras and analytics to count the people riding on trams and waiting at tram stops, and calculate typical journey times.
October 11, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Nicolas Gindt (left) of Yarra Trams and Jeroen Weimar of Public Transport Victoria

Public Transport Victoria (PTV) is testing a new analytics system on Melbourne's 7525 Yarra Trams, a first step toward the tram of the future. The trial is a partnership between PTV, Koelis Downer and Cisco.

Launched as a demo for ITSWC, the trial uses cameras and analytics to count the people riding on trams and waiting at tram stops, and calculate typical journey times.

The technology is implemented on one tram and at three stops on the main route between the Convention Centre and the Yarra Trams control centre which is hosting a tour for World Congress. For the trial, PTV has deployed 1028 Cisco analytics software that can count riders, and identify both gender and the general age of each rider.

However, the system preserves rider privacy. It only collects general data about ridership, but no data on specific individuals. The cameras are not recording video, and no pictures are saved. Ultimately, the analytics could support the Yarra Trams Tramtracker app, which helps riders make travel decisions. This new technology would enable the app to provide travel information in real time. In addition, the data collected by the system can augment incident management and strategic planning for tram operations.

Jeff Sharp, group manager, technology and innovation, 7203 Downer Group explained the impetus for the project: “We asked the question: If we build a tram of the future, what would it look like?” This project may provide an answer.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • US 511 system, the future of traveller information?
    April 23, 2013
    What started out at the turn of the millenium as a simple dial-up travel information service has grown out of all recognition in the digital age. Pete Goldin surveys the development to date of the US 511 traveller information system. In a little over a decade, 511 has gone from its original intent – a collection of recorded messages accessible via phone for pre-trip planning – to a network of dynamic traveller information services provided by states and cities throughout the US, offering access to a wide v
    Read More
  • Healthy prospects for floating vehicle data systems
    February 3, 2012
    Elmar Brockfeld, Alexander Sohr and Peter Wagner from the German Aerospace Center's Institute of Transport Systems look at the prospects for floating vehicle data systems. Although Floating Vehicle Data (FVD) or probe vehicle fleets have been around for about a decade, the idea behind them is of course much older: from probe vehicles that flow with the traffic it should be possible to get a precise, fast and spatially near-complete picture of the prevailing traffic flow conditions in an area under surveilla
    Read More
  • Data collection becoming a crowded market
    October 26, 2017
    New ways of gathering data can revolutionise traffic and travel management, so is the writing on the wall for the traditional methods? Jon Masters reports. There are two big industries that stand to be revolutionised by massive increases in data – healthcare and transportation, says Finlay Clarke, the UK managing director of the smartphone sat nav traffic app, Waze. “At present we’re really only at the start of how cities, in particular, will be transformed,” he says.
    Read More
  • City Tech to provide CTA occupancy insights 
    March 18, 2021
    Microsoft Azure tool will support data creation and analytics activities
    Read More

Highlighted Content